At gunpoint

      His breath was lost, his gaze was running from side to side looking for ways to retreat. Marcus knew he wasn't the best leader of Jericho, but he didn't want to lead everyone to death, he didn't want to, he regretted it. My heart sank, several dozen feds were ready to open fire on them at any second, these seconds in an instant became an eternity. The androids are waiting, they are waiting for him to save them all, they are hoping for him, they completely relied on him and Marcus thought it was their mistake. They put too many hopes and obligations on him, he couldn't, he didn't want to do it, it was too difficult, too unbearable. Why are the Jericho people silent? Why aren't they doing anything, why are they even now waiting for Marcus' orders. They are afraid, they need someone who will lead them, even if this someone is not capable of it, even if this someone led them only because others did not want to take his place, simply because there was no other choice.       — Marcus, what are we going to do? — For the first time, Simon's voice is not soothing, but annoying.       Why are they even now waiting for an answer from the one who let them down? Why do they follow him so blindly, why do they take his word for it? Because he freed them? Gave them hope? Gave them a reason to live? No matter, Marcus still regretted it, he could not fulfill what he promised, guilt consumed him, preventing him from thinking soberly. His fingers slowly tightened, he didn't know what to do next. It's a dead end. I wanted to do nothing more, disappear, not die, disappear so that no one would remember anymore. The wind blew over his face, making him wince, the thirium pump started pounding faster again, it was fear, Marcus was no longer afraid to admit it, he was not afraid to admit to himself that he had doomed everyone he loved, everyone who was dear to him, everyone, including himself and Simon, he had doomed to imminent death. Simon slowly touched his arm, trying to calm him down, he connected to him. Marcus's hopeless thoughts engulfed him too, they had no way out. Each of his actions could be the last and yet gathering his thoughts Marcus decided not to waste them just like that.       Slowly turning his head, trying not to arouse suspicion, the android bent down just as slowly and hesitantly without breaking eye contact with Simon. The deviant did not immediately understand his intentions. Gently touching someone else's lips, Marcus froze for a second and, closing his eyes, continued to kiss him again. As gently as he could, he knew that maybe this kiss would be the last, maybe right now he would die, every second could be fatal. Still gently kissing Simon, Marcus intertwined their fingers, raising his hand higher. He felt his thirium pump beating, he felt his emotions, heard his thoughts, what he was afraid of and what he hoped for. At gunpoint, everything felt sharper, like the first time. He heard his unfulfilled dreams, they had a dream, now it no longer mattered, now they lived here and now, neither in the future, nor in the past, now. Lightly hugging Simon's shoulder with his other hand, Marcus, without pulling away, slightly tilted his head to the side, continuing to kiss him slowly but confidently. Somewhere inside something was pinching, he wanted to live, wanted to live with him, somewhere where no one would interfere with them, why should they achieve this? Pulling away from Simon, Marcus awkwardly lowered his gaze into the snow in the hope that the feds would wait at least for a couple of minutes, for a couple of seconds. He saw how everyone was looking at them, androids, people, they were waiting, waiting, not shooting. They still have time, they will have time.       Hugging Marcus by the neck, Simon kisses him again, biting into someone else's lips, he hugs him harder, hugs him like for the last time. And Marcus responds to the kiss, he does not hear and does not see people, androids, he does not want to see them. Now there were only them, as if in their own, separate world, as if in a vacuum, where there was no one else. They didn't hear the helicopters coming closer, they didn't hear the people in the crowd protesting against the killing of androids, they didn't hear the feds slowly lowering their guns, they didn't hear it. There were now just them. Breaking the kiss, Marcus was overcome with despair again, he did not want to look at people, he wanted to close his eyes, go blind, just not to see his people die anymore, not to be afraid for his life, for Simon's life. North's hand slowly descended on his left shoulder, she blinked a couple of times and swallowed in the hope of an explanation, but Marcus could not and did not want to explain, there was no point, he did what he thought was right, and now it was no longer a matter, because time cannot be turned back, corrected, it remains only to humbly wait for the verdict, who will take out his life this time. There was a nasty ringing in his ears, his head felt like it was splitting, his legs were weak, he waited, counting down the seconds to his death, minutes, not moving, seeming to lose consciousness, but he waited, trying not to hope.       — They put away their weapons, — Simon noticed after taking a breath through his excitement. — They put away their weapons, do you hear. — He turned to all the Jericho people, but noticing that Marcus was not listening to him, he repeated again. — They won't shoot.       Marcus didn't hear him right away, he didn't believe it right away, it seemed to him it was all a cruel prank and that at any second they would open fire on them, just like that time. But it was real, it wasn't in any dreams or visions, it was here, close by, almost tangible. The heaviness seemed to have evaporated into meaningless dust, it seemed impossible, but still... it has happened, a long, dark and unenlightened night has come to an end. Simon even thought for a second that Marcus smiled. A little, just for a second.